Dave Tindall's player-by-player guide for the FedEx Cup finale - the Tour Championship at East Lake.
Player-by-player guide for this week's PGA Tour finale at East Lake
Thirty players will fight it out for the FedEx Cup and the whopping $10m bonus fund at this week's Tour Championship.
Dave Tindall assesses the whole field and picks out the best bets.
Players listed in FedEx Cup order (Sky Bet odds in brackets):
1) Tiger Woods (5/1): Woods is looking to win the FedEx Cup for the first time since 2009 and is in pole position to do so after his five wins in the regular season. A winner just once at East lake in eight attempts although four of those have been second places so he's definitely the man to beat. Only 11th last week but that included a two-shot penalty and he was actually ranked 1st on the All-Around stats.
2) Henrik Stenson (16/1): Made his move with a fantastic run during the summer which included a second place in The Open and a third in the US PGA. A deserved win in the Deutsche Bank briefly took him to No.1 in the FedEx standings although a 33rd in last week's BMW saw Tiger overtake him again. This will be his debut at East Lake.
3) Adam Scott (10/1): Never better than 12th in the final FedEx standings, this is Scott's big chance to land the jackpot. The Masters champion took the opening event of the play-offs to secure his place in the top five and, although he's cooled off since, his does boast winning form at East Lake having won the 2007 Tour Championship.
4) Zach Johnson (16/1): Leapt into the top five after a superb win in last week's BMW and that was his sixth top 10 in the last seven starts so his form is red-hot. He's won three of his 10 PGA Tour wins in Georgia, including the 2007 Masters, and was runner-up at East Lake in 2007 so he likes this part of the world.
5) Matt Kuchar (22/1): Kuchar completes the list of five men who control their own destiny i.e. if they win the tournament, they win the FedEx Cup. Kuchar, who finished second in the final standings in 2010, has form figures of 19-41-24 in the three play-off events while last year's 10th was his best East Lake finish in three starts.
6) Steve Stricker (16/1): Slipped out of the top five after letting a winning chance go in the BMW last week but he's finished second and fourth in the last two FedEx Cup play-off events so is very much in form. His best finishes at East Lake are a fifth way back in 1998 and a sixth in 2009.
7) Graham DeLaet (40/1): The surprise name in the top 10 and proof that the points system rewards current form. The Canadian made his move with a second place in the opening play-off event, the Barclays, and followed that with a third in the Deutsche Bank. Yet to win on the PGA Tour.
8) Phil Mickelson (16/1): Lefty is a two-time winner of the Tour Championship (2000 and 2009) and has finished second, third and fifth in previous FedEx Cups. Not in great nick in these play-offs (6-41-33) but the Open champ is always a threat in the State of Georgia where he's won three Masters Green Jackets.
9) Justin Rose (16/1): Second in last year's Tour Championship and fifth and sixth in the last two final FedEx Cup standings. Rose has yet to win since his superb US Open triumph at Merion but a second in The Barclays at the start of the play-offs suggests another victory isn't too far away.
10) Brandt Snedeker (18/1): Last year's FedEx Cup winner hit the jackpot after landing the Tour Championship (he'd started the event ranked fifth) but this year he'll need help. Even a repeat win wouldn't be enough if Tiger made the top four while others could knock him out too. 8th last week so coming into form again.
11) Jim Furyk (20/1): The 2010 FedEx Cup champion has come alive again in recent weeks, finishing second in the US PGA and also third last week after shooting a sensational 59 in round two. Boasts strong East Lake form (7-1-7-6-11-2) so expect him to be in the hunt again.
12) Nick Watney (28/1): The American started the play-offs in 63rd but a ninth at the Barclays and a fast-finishing second in last week's BMW have thrust him into the top dozen. A streaky player, as shown by his weekend 63-67 at East Lake in 2010 which elevated him to fourth.
13) Jordan Spieth (28/1): The youngster looks to have a huge future after posting a win and a play-off loss in his last seven starts while he was also fourth in the Deutsche Bank. That form secured him a Presidents Cup wildcard pick. Has never played a pro event in the state of Georgia.
14) Jason Day (20/1): Second and third in two of the last three Masters and sixth at East Lake in 2011; it's fair to say the Aussie likes his trips to Georgia. Progressive form in the play-offs of 25-13-4 also mark him down as one to watch.
15) Hunter Mahan (16/1): Looked to have the 2011 FedEx Cup in his hands before Bill Haas produced a miracle shot in the play-off to take the $10m away from him. Also eighth at East Lake year while he shot 65-67 on the weekend to finish fourth at the BMW last week.
16) Keegan Bradley (28/1): Won the 2011 US PGA (his first ever start in a major) at nearby Atlanta Athletic Club but hasn't cracked the top 10 in two starts at East Lake. Second in the Bridgestone last month and 16th in each of the last two play-off events.
17) Gary Woodland (66/1): Thrust himself into the FedEx Cup picture with a win in last month's Reno-Tahoe Open and a second, just two starts later, in The Barclays. Making just his second start in the final 30, his East Lake debut resulting in a 13th in 2011.
18) Bill Haas (40/1): Haas needs a lot to go for him to win the FedEx Cup (a victory and Tiger outside the top 10 for starters) but he actually started in 25th when he won this tournament and the FedEx Cup after a wonder shot from water in the play-off in 2011. That remains his only start at East Lake. FedEx Cup form this year is 28-MC-25.
19) Kevin Streelman (66/1): Banked the vast majority of his FedEx Cup points in the first five months of the season (won in Tampa Bay, second at Sawgrass) and hasn't had a top 10 in his last 11 starts. A decent ninth on his only East Lake appearance in 2010.
20) Jason Dufner (25/1): The newly-crowned US PGA champ was runner-up in Atlanta in the 2011 running of the year's final major but three visits to East Lake have only brought finishes of 20-13-19. Since banking his first major he's finished 37th, 9th and 54th.
21) Webb Simpson (40/1): Had a golden chance to capture the 2011 FedEx Cup when heading to East Lake ranked first but the pressure got to him and a 22nd place allowed Bill Haas to take the $10m. Was fifth at East Lake last year however so can play the course. Just one top 10 since April.
22) Billy Horschel (80/1): Enjoyed a brilliant run in April/March (a win, a second and a third) and also made the top six in the US Open. Has disappointed since then but an 18th in last week's BMW will give him renewed hope for his East Lake debut.
23) Charl Schwartzel (30/1): Surprisingly, this is the South African's first appearance in the Tour Championship (he was eliminated in 32nd and 61st the last two years). Can't quite find his best form at the moment but an eighth place last week - which secured his spot - could be something to build on.
24) Roberto Castro (66/1): The most unlikely name in the field but he's there on merit after a strong run which started with a second place in the AT&T at the end of June. Known for his fast starts so could be prominent early.
25) Sergio Garcia (25/1): Started the play-offs in 59th but played his way to Atlanta with a fourth in the Deutsche Bank and an 18th at the BMW. Has made six previous starts at East Lake, the best a second in 2008 and a fourth in 2007.
26) Boo Weekley (150/1): Has rather limped through the play-offs (58th, 35th and 54th) but started them in 12th so had enough points in the bank. Only his second time in the final 30, his previous appearance producing a 21st place in 2007.
27) Brendon de Jonge (80/1): After reaching the BMW (final 70) for the last three seasons, de Jonge has finally made it to East Lake. He did that via a solid run of 19th (Barclays), 9th (Deutsche Bank) and 18th (BMW). Has never won on the PGA Tour.
28) Luke Donald (18/1): Looked in grave danger of missing the Tour Championship for the first time since 2008 but squeezed in after a fourth on his 'home' course in Illinois last week. Now he's there, he could go close given his finishes of third, third and second on his last three starts.
29) D.A. Points (150/1): A sixth in the Barclays virtually assured his passage all the way through the play-offs although it was a close thing after a missed cut at the Deutsche Bank and a 57th at the BMW. Another East Lake debutant.
30) Dustin Johnson (45/1): After winning the season-opener in Hawaii it's a surprise that DJ qualified for the Tour Championship by the skin of his teeth. Last year's 10th spot is his best effort in four attempts at East Lake and even a win here wouldn't be enough to give him the FedEx Cup unless Tiger finished last!
Conclusion
This is the fifth year the $10m bonus fund has been up for grabs and, in two of the last three Tour Championships, players have come from off the pace to win it.
So while the top five in the current standings have the benefit of controlling their own destiny the flip side of the coin is that the $10m is theirs to lose. In other words, it almost increases the pressure.
That's why I prefer to back a player in the middle of the pack in the standings and the man I like best to win this week's event is 14th-ranked Jason Day.
For Day to win the FedEx Cup his win would have to be accompanied by Tiger finishing tied eighth or worse, Henrik Stenson finishing tied fourth or worse and also Adam Scott, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar not finishing solo second.
In other words, the huge jackpot won't be particularly on his mind until perhaps the very finish and therefore he can just freewheel it - just as Bill Haas did in 2011 when he didn't even know he'd won the FedEx Cup after winning the Tour Championship in a play-off.
Day is a big-time player so will love the buzz of this week when all the best players are teeing it up.
He's proven that in majors with a series of high finishes, two of which have come at nearby Augusta National (runner-up in 2011, third this year).
The Aussie heads to East Lake on the back of a fourth place finish at the BMW where he ranked third in the All-Around ranking while his last start here produced a sixth two years ago.
Take the 20/1.
If anyone can handle pressure of all that money it has to be Tiger Woods.
Majors are another story for Woods at the moment as it's these he measures himself in. But what's another $10m in the bank?!
Outside of the majors Woods has had a superb season and given his excellent record at East Lake he can crown it in style.
Sky Bet's Price Boost means we can get 11/2 on Tiger and that seems fair in such a small field.
Best bets:
2.5pts e.w. Jason Day at 20/1 (1/4 1,2,3,4)
5pts Tiger Woods at 11/2
